Job summary
Newcastle South PCN are embarking on a period of significant
development to deliver innovative services to meet the needs of our local
population. As part of this, an exciting new opportunity has arisen for a
Clinical Pharmacist - Independent Prescriber to join our expanding team.
Main duties of the job
Job
Overview:
The purpose of the role is to lead improvements to maximise safe, cost-effective best practice in prescribing to improve the quality of patient care. The post holder will help patients to get the best from their medicines by switching medications to agreed and approved protocols, improving repeat prescribing processes in General Practice, including promotion of repeat dispensing and online ordering, minimising clinical risk and aiming to reduce wasted medicines.
The postholder will practice as an independent prescriber, working with and alongside the general practice team, holding face to face consultations including for long term conditions within scope of competence.
In addition, the post holder will be responsible for encouraging the development of better understanding of the principles of medicines optimisation throughout the practice teams and promoting good practice in line with therapeutic developments. This will involve assisting the PCN in achieving national requirements and utilisation of medicines optimisation initiatives.
About us
Newcastle South PCN is made up of 6 member GP Practices with a combined patient population of circa 43,000. The practices are from both urban and rural areas, with significantly differing patient demographics:
- Silverdale Medical Centre
- Madeley Practice
- Kingsbridge Medical Centre
- University of Keele Practice
- Betley Surgery
- Ashley Surgery
We are a dynamic and forward thinking PCN team comprising of Clinical Pharmacists, Pharmacy Technicians, Care Coordinators, Social Prescribing Link Workers, First Contact Physiotherapy and Mental Health Practitioners, Health and Wellbeing Coach and Dietitian.
We work collaboratively with North Staffordshire GP Federation who support core General Practice to sustain the future for General Practice. The GP Federation facilitate and support the recruitment of this role within our Primary Care Network.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Main tasks/overview
of responsibilities:
Clinical
- Review letters from secondary care that recommend a change in medication.
Prescription Queries
- Resolve queries from the prescribing team.
Medication Reviews
- Review the records of patients whose repeat medication has reached the review date.
MHRA Alerts
- Monitor the MHRA and respond to alerts as necessary.
Repeat Prescribing
- Ensure the effective implementation of repeat dispensing.
External Stakeholders
- Provide patients on treating self-limiting conditions through face to face or remote consultation with referral to community pharmacy services as appropriate.
Assist with minor illness clinics.
Management
- Initiate and implement ideas to improve acute and repeat prescribing.
Administration
- Maintain accurate and clear clinical records.
Professional Development
- Pursue self-directed learning: identifying areas of weakness and taking steps to improve.
Code of Conduct
- All staff are required to work in accordance with the code of conduct for their professional group (e.g. Nursing and Midwifery Council, Health Professions Council, General Medical Council, NHS Code of Conduct for Senior Managers).
Health, Safety and Welfare
- In accordance with the Health & Safety at Work Act 1974 you have a duty to take reasonable care to avoid injury to yourself and to others by your work activities.
Infection Control
- It is the responsibility of all staff, whether clinical or non-clinical, to familiarise themselves with and adhere to current policy in relation to the prevention of the spread of infection.
Equality and diversity
- The post-holder will support the equality, diversity and rights of patients, carers and colleagues.
Clinical Governance and Risk Management
- The PCN believes everyone has a role to play in improving and contributing to the quality of care provided to our patients. As an employee of the PCN you are expected to take a proactive role in supporting the PCN and Practices clinical governance agenda.
Information Quality Assurance
- As an employee of the PCN it is expected that you will take due diligence and care in regard to any information collected, recorded, processed or handled by you during the course of your work and that such information is collected, recorded, processed and handled in compliance with PCN and Practice requirements and instructions.
Freedom of Information
- The post holder should be aware of the responsibility placed on employees under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 and is responsible for helping to ensure that the PCN and Practices comply with the Act when handling or dealing with any information relating to PCN or Practice activity.
Communication
- The post-holder should recognise the importance of effective communication within the team and will strive to communicate effectively with other team members, and communicate effectively with patients and carers.
This job description
is not exhaustive and duties may vary with the requirements of the PCN.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Main tasks/overview
of responsibilities:
Clinical
- Review letters from secondary care that recommend a change in medication.
Prescription Queries
- Resolve queries from the prescribing team.
Medication Reviews
- Review the records of patients whose repeat medication has reached the review date.
MHRA Alerts
- Monitor the MHRA and respond to alerts as necessary.
Repeat Prescribing
- Ensure the effective implementation of repeat dispensing.
External Stakeholders
- Provide patients on treating self-limiting conditions through face to face or remote consultation with referral to community pharmacy services as appropriate.
Assist with minor illness clinics.
Management
- Initiate and implement ideas to improve acute and repeat prescribing.
Administration
- Maintain accurate and clear clinical records.
Professional Development
- Pursue self-directed learning: identifying areas of weakness and taking steps to improve.
Code of Conduct
- All staff are required to work in accordance with the code of conduct for their professional group (e.g. Nursing and Midwifery Council, Health Professions Council, General Medical Council, NHS Code of Conduct for Senior Managers).
Health, Safety and Welfare
- In accordance with the Health & Safety at Work Act 1974 you have a duty to take reasonable care to avoid injury to yourself and to others by your work activities.
Infection Control
- It is the responsibility of all staff, whether clinical or non-clinical, to familiarise themselves with and adhere to current policy in relation to the prevention of the spread of infection.
Equality and diversity
- The post-holder will support the equality, diversity and rights of patients, carers and colleagues.
Clinical Governance and Risk Management
- The PCN believes everyone has a role to play in improving and contributing to the quality of care provided to our patients. As an employee of the PCN you are expected to take a proactive role in supporting the PCN and Practices clinical governance agenda.
Information Quality Assurance
- As an employee of the PCN it is expected that you will take due diligence and care in regard to any information collected, recorded, processed or handled by you during the course of your work and that such information is collected, recorded, processed and handled in compliance with PCN and Practice requirements and instructions.
Freedom of Information
- The post holder should be aware of the responsibility placed on employees under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 and is responsible for helping to ensure that the PCN and Practices comply with the Act when handling or dealing with any information relating to PCN or Practice activity.
Communication
- The post-holder should recognise the importance of effective communication within the team and will strive to communicate effectively with other team members, and communicate effectively with patients and carers.
This job description
is not exhaustive and duties may vary with the requirements of the PCN.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Undergraduate degree or MSc in Pharmacy
- Hold or be working towards a Postgraduate Diploma
- Independent prescribing qualification
Behavioural competencies and skills
Essential
- Minimum of 2 years post-qualification experience
- An appreciation of the nature of GPs and general practice
- An appreciation of the nature of primary care prescribing, concepts of rational prescribing and strategies for improving prescribing
- Excellent interpersonal, influencing and negotiating skills
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills
- Demonstrates the ability to communicate complex and sensitive information in an understandable form to a variety of audiences (e.g. patients)
- Is able to plan, manage, monitor, advise and review general medicine optimisation issues in core areas for long term conditions
- Good IT skills
- Able to obtain and analyse complex technical information
- Recognises priorities when problem solving and identifies deviations from the normal pattern and is able to refer to seniors or GPs when appropriate
- Able to work under pressure and to meet deadlines
- Produce timely and informative reports
- Gain acceptance for recommendations and influence/motivate/ persuade the audience to comply with the recommendations/agreed course of action where there may be significant barriers
- Work effectively independently and as a team member
- Demonstrates accountability for delivering professional expertise and direct service provisions
- Is able to recognise personal limitations and refer to more appropriate colleague(s) when necessary
- Demonstrates self-development through continuous professional development activity
- Can follow legal, ethical, professional, and organisational policies / procedures and codes of conduct.
Desirable
Professional Registration
Essential
- Mandatory registration with General Pharmaceutical Council
Desirable
- Membership of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society
- A member of or working towards Faculty membership of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society
Experience
Essential
- Minimum of 2 years post-qualification experience
- In depth therapeutic and clinical knowledge and understanding of principles of evidence-based healthcare
Other
Essential
- Self-motivation
- Adaptable
- Full driving licence
- Professional indemnity insurance (if not covered by practice policy)
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Undergraduate degree or MSc in Pharmacy
- Hold or be working towards a Postgraduate Diploma
- Independent prescribing qualification
Behavioural competencies and skills
Essential
- Minimum of 2 years post-qualification experience
- An appreciation of the nature of GPs and general practice
- An appreciation of the nature of primary care prescribing, concepts of rational prescribing and strategies for improving prescribing
- Excellent interpersonal, influencing and negotiating skills
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills
- Demonstrates the ability to communicate complex and sensitive information in an understandable form to a variety of audiences (e.g. patients)
- Is able to plan, manage, monitor, advise and review general medicine optimisation issues in core areas for long term conditions
- Good IT skills
- Able to obtain and analyse complex technical information
- Recognises priorities when problem solving and identifies deviations from the normal pattern and is able to refer to seniors or GPs when appropriate
- Able to work under pressure and to meet deadlines
- Produce timely and informative reports
- Gain acceptance for recommendations and influence/motivate/ persuade the audience to comply with the recommendations/agreed course of action where there may be significant barriers
- Work effectively independently and as a team member
- Demonstrates accountability for delivering professional expertise and direct service provisions
- Is able to recognise personal limitations and refer to more appropriate colleague(s) when necessary
- Demonstrates self-development through continuous professional development activity
- Can follow legal, ethical, professional, and organisational policies / procedures and codes of conduct.
Desirable
Professional Registration
Essential
- Mandatory registration with General Pharmaceutical Council
Desirable
- Membership of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society
- A member of or working towards Faculty membership of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society
Experience
Essential
- Minimum of 2 years post-qualification experience
- In depth therapeutic and clinical knowledge and understanding of principles of evidence-based healthcare
Other
Essential
- Self-motivation
- Adaptable
- Full driving licence
- Professional indemnity insurance (if not covered by practice policy)
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
